Pakistan

Pakistan says will not share US helicopter wreckage with China

Hussain Haqqani says China has not shown any interest in looking at chopper wreckage.

Afp May 12, 2011

WASHINGTON:

Pakistan said Wednesday it would not share the wreckage of a US helicopter used in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden with China, after speculation that the aircraft contained secret technology.

"Pakistan is not going to share any technology, and I don't think our friends in China have shown any interest in doing so," Pakistan's ambassador to the United States Husain Haqqani told CNN.

Updated from print edition (below)

China wants a peek at abandoned chopper

Pakistani officials on Tuesday said they are interested in studying the remains of the US’ secret stealth-modified helicopter abandoned during the Navy SEAL raid of Osama bin Laden’s compound, and suggested the Chinese are as well, ABC News reported.

The US has asked Pakistan for the helicopter wreckage back, but one Pakistani official told ABC News the Chinese were also “very interested” in seeing the remains. Another official said, “We might let them [the Chinese] take a look.” A US official said he did not know if the Pakistanis had offered a peek to the Chinese, but said he would be “shocked” if the Chinese had not already been given access.

The chopper, which aviation experts believe to be a highly classified modified version of a Blackhawk helicopter, clipped a wall during the operation. The US Navy SEALs attempted to destroy the chopper but a significant portion of the tail section survived the explosion. In the days after the raid, the tail section and other pieces of debris - including a mysterious cloth-like covering were photographed being hauled away from the crash site.

Aviation experts said the unusual configuration of the rear rotor, the curious hub-cap like housing around it and the general shape of the chopper are all clues the helicopter was highly modified.

US officials have not disclosed any details on the helicopter, but President Obama said it was a “$60 million helicopter,” in a report by The Washington Post. The price tag on normal Blackhawks varies depending on the type, but none cost more than $20 million according to the Department of Defense.

Meanwhile the CIA has informed two US Senate committees that their members can view post-mortem photos of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden if they wish.

Also on Tuesday, British newspaper The Telegraph reported that Hamza bin Laden, the youngest son of Osama bin Laden, may have escaped capture during the raid. Security officials believe a member of the Bin Laden household has disappeared, further deepening the confusion about who was killed. Investigators have said that one of Bin Laden’s widows has admitted a family member has not been seen since the raid. The White House initially claimed that Hamza had been killed. (With additional input from Reuters)

Published in The Express Tribune, May 12^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (15)

Michael | 12 years ago | Reply That's funny. Pakistan wants to study it but says it will not share the wreckage with China. Bin Laden was hiding in Pakistan and Pakistan says it did not know he was there. Why would we be so stupid and Naive to believe pakistan would not share their info with the Chinese? It should have been demanded back Immediately. We should have sent a small Cruise or Drone Missile strike into the compound at the Tail Section after the Seals left They already have about as much info as they can get now. Unbelievable

meekal ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Sir, You need to get your facts right. The disaster in Iran was because the helicopters turned the wrong way and into each other. They collided in mid-air. It was pilot error. Nothing wrong with the chopper. In Somalia, as shown in the movie, "Black Hawk Down", the chopper was shot down by rebels. Nothing wrong with the machine which is the main-stay of the US. In this case it is not clear what happened. Some say small-arms ground fire. Others think that the chopper, which was heavily loaded, had trouble maintaining lift on the descent into the compound and landed hard because of the high altitude and temperature (Abbottabad is over 4,000 MSL and the night was very hot). So it was a performance issue in a hot and high environment. Typically, in a crash or if self-destructed, the tail section always survives. To my knowledge the Chinese already have a stealth bomber but it has only done taxi-trials so far and has not flown. However, I am sure they know everything about stealth technology. Nevertheless, they would be curious to inspect the US version -- which they probably have done already, minus the parts the locals walked off with! So much for securing the site.

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gen | 12 years ago | Reply from this, its sure that china starts making their INDIGENOUS stealth helicopters

javed | 12 years ago | Reply Share it...China is our good friend...America just use us..not our friend..Americans use us then they throw us in dustbin...thats why they also do this drama of osama bin ladin... This is American policy use others then throw them...study the history... first they use talibans against russia..when they break russia then they throw taliban..after that they use musharaf when amerecan use him then they also throw him..know they use pakistan against terrorism they complete their interest know they are buzy to throw away pakistan...and also try to attack on pakistan...they are selfist..

Pakistani | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistanis radars couldn't see the US helicopter and US helcopter couldn't see the Pakistani brick wall.. High tech chopper versus low quality brick wall. Winner is low quality brick wall.

SULTAN | 12 years ago | Reply SEEMS JOKE.ways are searched to create hatred among Pakistan and China. As the only powerful country to support Pakistan during difficult time.So awesome that people use different sources to produce gaps between the two countries and trying to keep Pakistan all alone.

dude | 12 years ago | Reply There will be harsh consequences for Pakistan getting closer with China in future(like its facing with USA). China is not at all trustworthy country. With the help of pakistan they are trying to destabilize the south asia. All south asian countries must not allow this country to infiltrate in to our region. We can sort out our differences by mutual understanding. Its better to solve homely disputes at home and. Third party will always complicate the situation. Remember the story of monkey and butter.

Dr. Saleem Siddiqi | 12 years ago | Reply USA has a bad record for such missions and their Helicopter keep falling by themselves. As far as I know, this is third such incident. While freeing US Embassy staff in Iran, One US Chopper went down. Once in Africa same incident happened. and this is the 3rd incident. Therefore, tt is not worth duplicating or even looking on a chopper which did not / cannot even performe a perfect recovery mission. What a waste of technlogy worth $60 Millions. We must ask Shershah Kabarias to bid for this Camel-lot and distribute REW-RIANS in public. Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg.

A Suhail | 12 years ago | Reply What about Bin Laden's wives? Are we allowed to share them with the Chinese or Americans will scoff at that also.

R S JOHAR | 12 years ago | Reply Breaking news is that Chinese have already commenced working on stealth helicopters after receiving parts in China which will be returned for handing-over back to US.

Bilafond | 12 years ago | Reply China is our friend and I dont see why they should not be given access. We have another bed fellow called the USof A. It is there fore okay. They should just consider that this has also be dumped in South China Sea.

Arsalan | 12 years ago | Reply It's Pakistan's right to share the wreckage with its engineers as well as share with any of its friends like China. Pakistan didn't steal this helicopter from USA. Since it came illegally in Pakistan's territory, Pakistan has complete right to do whatever it wants with the wreckage and USA shouldn't be concerned with it. It's good if Pakistan or China reverse engineer it and US can only stop them if it holds its patent.

Ba Ha | 12 years ago | Reply if Hollywood is their bible the wreckage is a "plant" . Might be worth less than anticipated

s. ali | 12 years ago | Reply china will take the wreckage, reverse engineer it and will make its own stealth chopper.LOL

Atheist, India | 12 years ago | Reply Coming soon Chinese stealth helicopters 100 dollar each.

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